Camberley boost planned

Stirling Halbert, pictured with pupils from Camberley School, Hastings. Photo / Paul Taylor

Te Ora Hou Hawke's Bay in Camberley is striving to uplift its community by providing new employment opportunities.

With about 60 per cent of houses in the community owned by Housing New Zealand, community leader Stirling Halbert sees golden opportunities for whnau to be involved in.

One of them, is working alongside HNZ in a new property and lawn maintenance project that will benefit both state housing tenants and the community.

The plan would employ community locals rather than outside businesses, to maintain the lawns, gardens and all outdoor maintenance on all of the properties.

Stirling believes that people don't always have the tools to maintain properties or are physically incapable which can be reflected into a community setting.

"It's about enhancing the mana of our people, which provides opportunities for community ownership, and resilience, I am hopeful of the future of Camberley because the people are embracing opportunities of change," he says.

The idea is in the early stages of planning and is all part of the 10-year-plan for Camberley, which includes the completion of an eco-hub that will also provide training and future employment.

The demolition of four, two-storey state houses provided opportunity for the land to be utilised as an eco-hub that will be used for growing vegetables, fruit trees, composting and worm farming.

Everything will be completely GE Free and will allow the community to hold its own market garden, inclusive of a nursery where locals can gain skills in germinating native plants and other healthy lifestyle opportunities.

Locals will be responsible for maintaining the eco-hub and the plan is to eventually employ people specifically for the job.

"It's about key stakeholders engaging with our community to ensure clear pathways are established to upskill and provide employment opportunities that give sustainability to future developments at a community level," explains Stirling.

With the help of the Eastern Institute of Technology multiple raised garden beds have been built and installed.

The aim is to have the entire eco-hub completed within the next 18 months ready for the next phase in the growth of Camberely.